Category: Animals/Pets

by J. Lee Nsefu Wildlife Conservation Foundation was founded in 2015 by Coe Lewis, President and Director of U.S. operations and ‘Victory’ Victoria Wallace, President and Director of Zambian operations. Coe is a radio personality for KGB 101.5 FM in San Diego, CA. Victoria and her husband David, own Zikomo Safari (an Eco-Lodge) in Zambia. Nsefu is a 501(c)(3) organization. They use 100% of their donations for anti-poaching and community outreach. Their ten board members are not paid a salary. Nsefu is a Zambian word for “eland”, which is a type of antelope in that region. The San Diego Union Tribune…

by J. Lee Puppy mills are a timely concern since many people are considering puppies as Christmas presents. Puppy mills are a year round concern, but more so now considering the holidays are upon us. Many people may have already visited pet stores unaware of where puppies might have come from. November 16, 2017, I wrote about pets who are abandoned after the holidays. For an incite to my thoughts about pets as presents you can read my story ‘Christmas, A Time for Joy? Yes – Except For Many Pets Given…

by J. Lee Donkeys Killed For Chinese Medicine and Meat I recently learned about the slaughter of donkeys. It is estimated 4 million donkeys are killed every year. Their skin is used to make a Chinese medicine named ejiao. The demand is a threat to donkeys worldwide. It is created by boiling skins to to produce a gelatin. It is also turned into powders, tablets and face creams. Even though it is thought to have medical benefits many say ejiao has no medicinal value. The market for it is fueled by greed.…

by J. Lee To Crate or Not to Crate? There are many opinions regarding the use crates for dogs. Some feel they provide safety. Some see crates as prisons. Pro-Crate Putting a dog in a crate to keep it safe is considered acceptable if the length of time is limited. Examples could be when a dog is being transported, when they are part of an adoption event, maybe a new puppy is being introduced in a household with another dog or dogs, during family dinnertime or for medical reasons as…

by J. Lee CHRISTMAS, A TIME FOR JOY – BUT FOR PETS GIVEN AS GIFTS? Who has been naughty and who has been nice? It is that time of the year when people get out their Christmas shopping lists. Gifts are fun to give and fun to get. Christmas is all about giving and celebrating with family and friends. What is not fun are statistics that show pets given as gifts abandoned following Christmas. Sadly shelters fill up with relinquished pets. Similar statistics occur following Easter with the abandonment of…

By J. Lee WOLVES, THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AND H.R. 424 The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was designed to protect many species including wolves. Although all species need protection, this story will focus on the plight of wolves in the United States. The ESA was written by a team of scientists and lawyers. It was passed by the 93rd United States Congress. It was signed by President Nixon in 1973. Prior to the ESA, was the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966. The objective of The Endangered Species Act is to protect…

by J. Lee THE LONELY LIFE OF DOGS I will never understand those who get a dog or dogs just to abandon them in backyards, basements or garages. Why? So they can tells others they have a dog? The reality is the dog has no human. It is sentenced to a life of loneliness. Dogs are pack animals. They are highly social. They are socially-cognitive. Loneliness is torture for them. They thrive on interaction with other dogs and their human companions. A dog needs stimulation. They can become stressed when bored. They…

by J. Lee Disabled Animals Who Overcame Their Challenges This story is a continuation of my previous disabled animal story featuring dogs and cats. See below for a link to read: Part One ‘Disabled Dogs And Cats – Amazing Mobility With Pet Wheelchairs And Water Therapy’. This story will give you a greater understanding about disabled animals, technological advances in the medical field, veterinary advances, and those who rescue special need animals. Some animals are fitted with wheelchairs. Some are fitted with prosthetics which can be referred to as having…

by J. Lee Seal Hunting – End the Barbaric Slaughter It has been estimated seal hunting or sealing dates back 4,000 years or more. In early history killing of seals was done for food and clothing. The first recorded killing was in 1515 by Europeans as they brought the seal skins to Seville. In the 1500’s it is believed that Newfoundland, Labrador and the Gulf of St. Lawrence were the first commercial sealing regions. Inuit’s have seal hunted as a way of survival for food and clothing for generations. They usually hunt the adult ringed seals.…

by J. Lee RABBITS ABUSED FOR FUR AND MEAT The horrors of rabbits farms Rabbits kept for fur and meat suffer from unimaginable cruelty. They are abused while being kept in dirty wire cages that injure their delicate feet. In fur farms rabbits are kept in solitary confinement. In meat farms they are crammed into overcrowded cages. Many of them suffer from untreated fungal infections that causes skin ulceration’s and their fur can fall out. They are unable to play, run, dig, feel solid ground under their feet or enjoy sunshine. Those kept…